While kayaking and paddleboarding off the coast of Quindalup in Geographe Bay, a family of four was swept out to sea when conditions turned rough. As the situation turned dire, 13-year-old Austin Appelbee left his family and swam four hours through challenging conditions to sound the alarm.
“Not today” says teen hero who saved his family after a kayaking mishap
“I was scared, confused, frightened,” said Beau, Austin’s 12-year-old brother in an interview with ABC News Australia.
Clinging to a paddleboard 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) offshore, Joanne Appelbee, mother of Austin, Beau, and 8-year-old Grace, was forced to make the tough decision to ask her oldest, 13-year-old Austin, to leave his family to find help.
“I knew it’d be a long way… but the kayak kept on taking in water,” said Austin.
After first attempting to make it to shore with the kayak and with his life jacket on, Austin eventually left both behind to swim to shore as quickly as possible.
“I just said… not today, not today, not today,” shared Austin. “I have to keep on going.”
Austin recounted that the waves were massive, and that he used a mix of breast stroke, freestyle, and survival backstroke to reach shore. Upon reaching shore, he then sprinted 2 kilometers (1.3 miles) to reach a phone.
“I ran to the phone. I said ‘police, I need helicopters, I need planes, I need boats… my family is out at sea’,” shared Austin. “I was very calm about it.”
Rescuers praise efforts of 13-year-old Appelbee
Meanwhile, Appelbee’s family, all wearing life jackets, clung to the paddleboard and worked to stay together until help arrived.
“I didn’t know where they were, or how they were,” said Austin. “I thought they were dead. I had a lot of guilt in my heart… because you know, I thought ‘aw, man I wasn’t fast enough’.”
Rescue crews arrived on the scene to assist Joanne, Beau and Grace just after the sun had set.
“There’s no bigger word to describe you other than pride,” Joanne said to her son in an interview. “I’m speechless at his efforts but at the same time I knew he could do it.”
Just weeks before Austin failed his vacation swimming assessment; ABC News Australia reports that rescuers are urging his instructors to reconsider.
“He’s done really well,” said Paul Bresand, of Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue. “Adult people couldn’t do that.”
Life jackets and staying together contributed to survival of rescued family
“He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on,” Bresland told ABC News Australia. “And the brave fella thought he’s not going to make it with a life jacket on, so he ditched it, and he swam the next two hours without a life jacket.”
Austin’s swim and subsequent run and phone call resulted in a multi-agency search and rescue operation. Bresland also added that Austin’s description of the colour of the kayak and paddleboards aided in finding the family as soon as possible, and Joanne keeping the youngest two children with her and a paddleboard was key to their survival.
“This incident is a reminder that ocean conditions can change rapidly. Thankfully, all three people were wearing lifejackets, which contributed to their survival,” said Inspector James Bradley, South West District Office in a statement.
“The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough,” continued Bradley. “His determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings.”
